Need help with biology exams at uni...
10
I apologise in advance for this rant...
I'm just about to start my 3rd year doing a biology undergraduate degree. Last year I achieved a low 2:1, but the majority of the final grade will come from exams in this upcoming year.
2:1 is by no means a bad result, but I know I can do better! In all my untimed, open book essays I get very good feedback, and my tutors have expressed that they expect me to end up with a strong 1st. But when it comes to exam essays, I suck. I always get a 2:2 and it drags my grades down.
I always procrastinate until a few weeks before the exam and am very unprepared. This is mostly because studying gives me major anxiety. I get extremely anxious and can't enjoy anything (like I'm miserable for the entire term leading up to my exams). I can never sleep the night before, and when I start the exam my mind goes blank for at least 15 minutes. Everyone else is already furiously typing and I can't even understand the question yet. I also write slower than anyone else I know, both in terms of how fast I can think and how fast I can type. My mind goes blank and I can't remember anything. It just sucks in all possible ways. Then I end up getting emails from my tutors about how they "expected more from me" and "I should do better" and I just want to scream at them that exam essays are nothing like the essays I write during term, open book and untimed. I'm amazing at essays when I work at my own pace, and terrible in exam conditions.
I know I need to study more, that's a given. And I know I need to practice writing timed essays and making essay plans as part of my revision. But are there any other tips anyone has? How do I increase my thinking and writing speeds efficiently? How do I manage my anxiety? How do I memorise facts without being bored out of my mind?
I'm just about to start my 3rd year doing a biology undergraduate degree. Last year I achieved a low 2:1, but the majority of the final grade will come from exams in this upcoming year.
2:1 is by no means a bad result, but I know I can do better! In all my untimed, open book essays I get very good feedback, and my tutors have expressed that they expect me to end up with a strong 1st. But when it comes to exam essays, I suck. I always get a 2:2 and it drags my grades down.
I always procrastinate until a few weeks before the exam and am very unprepared. This is mostly because studying gives me major anxiety. I get extremely anxious and can't enjoy anything (like I'm miserable for the entire term leading up to my exams). I can never sleep the night before, and when I start the exam my mind goes blank for at least 15 minutes. Everyone else is already furiously typing and I can't even understand the question yet. I also write slower than anyone else I know, both in terms of how fast I can think and how fast I can type. My mind goes blank and I can't remember anything. It just sucks in all possible ways. Then I end up getting emails from my tutors about how they "expected more from me" and "I should do better" and I just want to scream at them that exam essays are nothing like the essays I write during term, open book and untimed. I'm amazing at essays when I work at my own pace, and terrible in exam conditions.
I know I need to study more, that's a given. And I know I need to practice writing timed essays and making essay plans as part of my revision. But are there any other tips anyone has? How do I increase my thinking and writing speeds efficiently? How do I manage my anxiety? How do I memorise facts without being bored out of my mind?
Moved to a more appropriate forum.
Have you asked for any support with this from your university? It sounds like you could benefit with some help, which you might be able to if you are diagnosed with a disability or mental health condition. I would speak to your tutors about how you are feeling as well because they might be able to help you if you tell them how you are struggling.
If you do not have a diagnosis of anything it may be worth speaking to your GP, especially as it seems to be making you very anxious.
As for practical tips, I'm not sure because I have never been particularly great at revising, but I would suggest maybe trying to find a form of revision that you find enjoyable and doing mock exams in timed conditions to see how you do when doing it on your own without the pressure of being in the actual exam.
Have you asked for any support with this from your university? It sounds like you could benefit with some help, which you might be able to if you are diagnosed with a disability or mental health condition. I would speak to your tutors about how you are feeling as well because they might be able to help you if you tell them how you are struggling.
If you do not have a diagnosis of anything it may be worth speaking to your GP, especially as it seems to be making you very anxious.
As for practical tips, I'm not sure because I have never been particularly great at revising, but I would suggest maybe trying to find a form of revision that you find enjoyable and doing mock exams in timed conditions to see how you do when doing it on your own without the pressure of being in the actual exam.
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